Whittier, CA
Our local community here in Whittier is in shock tonight after it was learned that two popular members of the famed Whittier PresbyterianInter community Hospital have been confirmed to have died after falling into a wild river in the historic Yosemite Valley.

Earlier this month, the body of Minh Nguyen, a 24 year old Westminster native who went missing nearly for two weeks was killed in a river accident at the Kern River along with Norwalk resident Scott Neacato, 22, who was with Nguyen when they were both swept into the wild rapids. Neacato's body has still not been found as of this post. (See other information on Scott and Mihn here on my blog).

Both Meyer and Fox are in their 50's according to media reports. It is also being reported that they were with a group of friends who also work at WPIH including Meyer's wife.

My heart breaks for these two men, and for Minh and Scott and all the families touch in these two horrific tragedies. Share your thoughts below this post. Should these rivers been made "off limits" for the remainder of this season due to the past record snow fall? RIP. More details later. Keep EVERYONE in your PRAYERS who have been touched by these passings.

Mark Halperin, political commentator for MSNBC's Morning Joe Show has won my "Political Pirate of the Week Award" for calling President Barack Obama, are you ready, a "DI*K" on the air this morning. WTH? Is this guy nuts, or is their some truth to the statement? No word from the White House on the "d-word" flap. My coveted "Political Pirate" Award to Mr. Halperin will be sent to him COD. Get ready, pal! BTW, old' Mark is having an "Adult Time Out." Yep. Them new bosses at NBC don't like it when you call the Commander in Chief a "dick." Paging Keith Olberman, and that dude Rick Sanchez who use to be on CNN. Nice going, idiot. Hey, since it looks like Halperin's career is over at NBC, I would be MORE THAN HAPPY to TAKE over HIS GIG? Hit my comment section below if you are a "news reporter" and SOUND OFF!

LOS ANGELES -- A 19-year-old reputed gang member was charged today with capital murder after he allegedly opened fire on a group of teens waiting to play basketball at a Venice-area park, killing two and wounding a third.

Michael Anthony Mariscal, (dob 2-2-92), is scheduled to be arraigned after 1:30 p.m. at Airport Superior Court, Department 144, said Deputy District Attorney Alva Lin with the Hardcore Gang Division. He was charged in case SA078033 with two counts of capital murder with the special circumstances of multiple murder and to benefit a gang.

In addition, he was charged with three counts of attempted premeditated murder, one count of street terrorism and one count of possession of a firearm by a felon.

Lin said the two victims, Salvador Diaz, 18, and Allan Mateo, 19, were sitting in bleachers in Penmar Park with a group of friends waiting to play basketball on June 22 when Mariscal allegedly walked up and made gang references.

Mariscal allegedly opened fire on the group of five teens, killing Diaz and Mateo and wounding a 17-year-old male in the leg. Two other teens managed to escape without injuries. The shooting occurred about 4 p.m. at the park located in the 1300 block of Lake Street.

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

I am calling this crime...and guilty plea here in Los Angeles County today as "Uncle Sam GOT YOU!" From the Los Angeles County District Attorney Media Division.

POMONA – The self-appointed “Supreme Commander” of a phony Army unit who outfitted more than 200 recruits with uniforms and provided them bogus documents for a fee pleaded guilty today and was sentenced to prison, the District Attorney’s office announced.

Yupeng Deng, a 51-year-old Chinese national from El Monte, pleaded guilty to three felony counts -- theft by false pretenses, manufacturing deceptive government documents and counterfeit of an official government seal, said Deputy District Attorney Lalit Kundani.

Image by Getty Images via @daylifeIn a separate case, Deng also pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography stemming from a search warrant executed at his home.

Deng, who also goes by David Deng, was immediately sentenced by Judge Jack Hunt to three years in state prison and ordered to pay restitution. The amount will be determined later, although Kundani said estimates are around $200,000. In exchange for his plea, the remaining 10 counts were dismissed, Kundani said.

Deng created a fake unit he called the U.S. Army/Military Special Forces Reserve unit ("MSFR") in October 2008. He recruited more than 200 Chinese nationals around the country and charged them initiation fees ranging from $300 to $450 with renewal fees set at $120 each year. Recruits could increase their rank in the "MSFR" by making cash donations to the defendant, prosecutors said.

Recruits, who received fraudulent military ID cards in addition to Army uniforms, were told that belonging to the bogus unit was a path to U.S. citizenship.

Deng decorated his Temple City office to look like an official U.S. military recruiting center. He used the office to conduct military training and indoctrination, authorities said. He also had MSFR offices in Oakland and Atlanta, Ga.

“Yupeng Deng made a hobby of lying about himself,” Kundani said. “He called himself the "Supreme Commander" when, in reality, he was the "Supreme Con Artist. He wanted to wear the king's robe, ride on the king's horse and wear the king's crown but he didn't have the courage to walk a day in the king's shoes. It was easy for him to put on his uniform to get an airline discount, but he certainly wasn't willing to put on a uniform to jump out of fighter plane. This was his idea of patriotism.”

Steven Martinez, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office said, “FBI and DCIS agents who investigated the immigrant fraud scheme, as well as the child pornography found in Deng’s residence should be commended for the collaborative effort that led to the successful prosecution by the District Attorney’s Office.

“In addition to his crime against children, Mr. Deng dishonored the brave men and women of the United States military and defrauded a vulnerable immigrant population, many of whom legitimately hoped and believed they were on a path to American citizenship,” Martinez said.

Chris Hendrickson, Special Agent in Charge of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, Western Field Office, said, "Deng's greed and corrupt practices victimized innocent immigrants and compromised our national security.

"The Defense Criminal Investigative Service places a special focus on protecting our Warfighters both in theater and at home. Deng compromised the safety of our men and women serving in the U.S. military by creating and selling bogus military identification cards, which falsely represented the bearers as members of the U.S. Armed Services. Deng also exploited for profit and power well intentioned immigrants who were conned by Deng into believing they were members of the U.S. Armed Forces and that their service would lead to U.S. citizenship. Finally, Deng's possession of child pornography is reprehensible. This investigation should serve as a warning for those intent on defrauding the U.S. military and harming innocent victims that the DCIS and our law enforcement partners will pursue these crimes relentlessly."

WHITTIER -- A Whittier father and son who allegedly attacked a man including unleashing the family pit bull on the victim were charged today in separate cases, the District Attorney’s office announced.

Richard Rudy Aragon, 51 (dob 11-6-59), is scheduled to be arraigned sometime today at Whittier Superior Court. Aragon is being held on $130,000 bail. He was charged in case VA120440 with one count of mayhem and two counts of assault with a deadly weapon, a pit bull, likely to cause great bodily injury. If convicted, Aragon faces up to 12 years in state prison.

On Saturday around 9 a.m., Aragon’s 17-year-old son allegedly confronted a 43-year-old man and demanded his wallet. The man refused and the pair began fighting in front of Crestwood Apartments in the 8900 block of Painter Avenue, near Lambert Road, Whittier Police Department said.

Aragon allegedly came to the boy's assistance and released the pit bull, who bit both ear tips off the victim. The suspects also allegedly punched and kicked the victim while the dog attacked, police said. Aragon and his son, whose name is not being released because he is a juvenile, were later arrested.

The juvenile, (dob 3-8-94), also was charged today with two counts of assault with a deadly weapon, a foot, with force likely to inflict great bodily injury, one count of attempted robbery and one count of witness intimidation. He is scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday at Los Padrinos Juvenile Court in case VJ40303.

The out of control Las Conchas fire has reached the famed Los Alamos National Laboratory and according to information released to the media the fire has been contained the "spot fire." Los Alamos is still closed due to the fire that has that is still out of control as of Midnight, Tuesday. Here is the "official" statement from LANL.

Lab Director Briefs New Mexico Governor, Congressional Delegation, Pueblo RepresentativesLos Alamos, New Mexico, June 27, 2011, 10:00pm—Los Alamos National Laboratory and National Nuclear Security Administration officials today briefed the New Mexico congressional delegation, New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez, and representatives from neighboring Pueblos on the status of the Las Conchas wildfire and its potential impacts on Lab property. LANL Director McMillan thanked emergency crews who quickly extinguished a spot fire this afternoon in the Lab’s remote southwestern area. “Our efforts in recent years to thin ground fuels around the Laboratory, coupled with the reduction in fuels caused by historic fires in the area, are helping protect the Laboratory and townsite,” LANL Director Charles McMillan said in an afternoon conference call. “The Lab community is incredibly thankful for the regional, state, and federal resources coming to our aid.” The Governor said, after visiting Espanola’s Santa Claran Event Center, where some evacuees are sheltering, “I was amazed by their attitude; the spirit of the people there. They were so grateful.” She added that evacuees also appreciated how organized the evacuation had been. At the Lab’s Technical Area 49, the fire jumped across New Mexico State Route 4, but landed in an area that had been thinned of ground fuels in recent years. NNSA Site Office Manager Kevin Smith said, “Lessons learned from the Cerro Grande fire are being applied today,” and reiterated that Department of Energy senior leaders had pledged highest-level support and cooperation. Additionally, the Laboratory has called in teams to monitor its network of 60-plus AIRNET monitoring stations and has high-volume air samplers ready to deploy. “We’re doing this as a precaution,” McMillan said. “The health and safety of this community and our neighbors is our highest priority.” No Lab facilities face immediate threat and all radioactive and hazardous materials are accounted for and protected.Firefighters Control Spot Fire on Lab Property6/27/2011 17:07- Fire crews have contained a spot fire that started in a remote area of Los Alamos National Laboratory. Emergency officials say the Las Conchas fire, which had burned to the southern edge of New Mexico State Route 4 at the Lab’s southwest boundary, crossed the road to the north early this afternoon. Air crews dumped water at the site within the Lab’s Technical Area 49 and brought the blaze under control. The area had been thinned of ground fuels in recent years. About one acre burned and the Lab has detected no off-site releases of contamination. No other fires are currently burning on Lab property, no facilities face immediate threat, and all nuclear and hazardous materials are accounted for and protected. Environmental sites are being monitored and air quality experts are coordinating with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The Las Conchas fire has burned an estimated 49,000 acres in forests, canyons, and mesas south and west of the Lab. The Lab will remain closed on Tuesday, June 28, and is supporting Los Alamos County as it conducts a staged, mandatory evacuation of the town site. Los Alamos County residents should tune to 1610-AM for updated information. A Joint Information Center has been established at the Regional Development Corporation, 2209 Miguel Chavez Rd. in Santa Fe. Media should call 505-820-1226 for updates and monitor www.nmfireinfo.com for official fire updates.

POMONA– A Pomona jury has convicted a 29-year-old man of stealing a sport-utility vehicle then leading police on a high-speed chase that ended in a fatal collision last June.Deputy District Attorney T.D. Pham of the Pomona Branch Office said the jury on Friday found Luis Miguel Noriega guilty of all charges, including second-degree murder, evading an officer causing death, leaving the scene of an accident, unlawful driving or taking of a vehicle and receiving stolen property.Noriega was driving a stolen sport-utility vehicle when he ran a red light and collided with a sedan driven by Walter Williams, 37. The June 18, 2010 accident at the intersection of Ramona Boulevard and Francisquito Avenue in Baldwin Park killed Williams, a counselor at a Baldwin Park youth facility.Noriega returns to Pomona Superior Court on Aug. 18 for sentencing before Judge Tia Fisher. He faces 23 years to life in prison.

Image via WikipediaI have been following this crime since the day it took place.

Tonight there is JUSTICE FOR "Courage," the German Shepard who was left chained to a pole by the owner for days on end, without food or water.

Justice has FINALLY been served in the animal cruelty case here in Bellflower. Courage is doing great now. As a matter of fact, our hoods' 'wonderdawg' recently made a "personal" appearance here at the Grand Opening of the new Lucky Dog Cafe here at the Los Cerritos Shopping Center.

Woof woof!RrE . . . NORWALK– A 27-year-old woman pleaded no contest today to nearly starving her dog to death last year, the District Attorney’s Office.Kimberly Kimiko Nizato entered her plea to one felony count of animal cruelty before Judge Margaret Bernal at Norwalk Superior Court. Nizato pleaded open to the court, meaning there was no offer by the District Attorney’s office, prosecutors said.Nizato was charged after a severely emaciated adult German Shepard she owned was rescued from her home on April 6, 2010. The veterinarian who examined the dog determined there was no evidence of food in his system, but hair, dirt and rocks were found in the stomach, authorities said.Nizato worked in the veterinary field at the time of the offense. The dog, who was later adopted and renamed Courage, now weighs more than 80 pounds and is in good health, according to authorities.The defendant faces up to three years in state prison when she returns to court on July 28 for sentencing by Judge Robert Higa.

Above:INCREDIBLE Time-lapse movie of the Las Conchas Fire, Los Alamos County, June 26 2011. Time-lapse exposures are from a vantage point just north of Santa Fe, home of Polly White & Michael Zeiler. Los Alamos city and labs can be seen to the right of the fire. Via You Tube!Image via WikipediaNew Mexico, USA

The famed painted desert of New Mexico is a sea of smoke today as a possibly dangerous and fast moving wild fire has broken out forcing the closing of the fames Los Alamos National Labratory.

"All laboratory facilities will be closed for all activities and nonessential employees are directed to remain off site. Employees are considered nonessential and should not report to work unless specifically directed by their line managers. Employees should check local news sources, the LANL Update Hotline 505-667-6622 and the LANL web page www.lanl.gov for updates. All radioactive and hazardous material is appropriately accounted for and protected. LANL staff is coordinating the on-site response and supporting the county and federal fire response. The Laboratory’s Emergency Operations Center has been activated."

The fire has already destroyed more than 3,500 acres, and it is out of control and growing hour by hour. Los Alamos County officials are asking residents in Los Alamos and White Rock, especially those with health conditions, to consider a voluntary evacuation.

Known as the "Las Conchas" wildfire, the blaze is "actively burning" near Frijoles Canyon approximately 12 miles away from residential areas. Smoke is filling the normally stunning colorful skies with a thick black smoke.

The blaze is expected to settle into the White Rock and nearby valley area in Monday morning.

According to a written statement issued to the media late Sunday evening:

Image via Wikipedia"Los Alamos County officials are closely monitoring the situation on a minute-to-minute basis. Anyone voluntarily leaving Los Alamos or White Rock from northern Los Alamos should proceed southbound on Diamond Drive either to Trinity Drive or East Jemez Road (White Rock Truck Route). If residents decide to voluntarily evacuate, they should take necessary steps now to remove essential belongings, in case they cannot return to their homes in the near future. In particular, residents are urged to take necessary medications and pets with them.

LAS CONCHAS WILDFIRE UPDATE 3:15pm Sunday June 26Fire Name: Las Conchas Time/Date Started: Sunday, June 26Location: Jemez Ranger District, Santa Fe National Forest; approximately 12 miles southwest of Los Alamos off NM 4 at mile marker 35. Legal Description: T18N, R4E, SEC 4Cause: Unknown, under investigationFuels: Mixed Conifer, Ponderosa PineSize: 100 acres +. The fire is actively burning. Running, crowning and spotting up to a half a mile of the head of the fire has been observed.% Contained: 0Resources Committed: Multiple ground and air resources are en route and on scene. Type 1 Incident Management Team has been ordered. Today’s Weather: Red flag conditions (hot temperatures, low humidity, high winds) are present. Structures/threats: Structures and powerlines. Power and phone lines are down in the area.Evacuations: Residents living within Cochiti Mesan and Las Conchas are being evacuated at this time. Evacuees are being housed at the La Cueva Fire Station.Road Closures: NM 4 is closed at Jemez Falls Campground and at NM 510. Summary: Active fire behavior has been observed with running and spotting on both sides of NM 4.Smoke: A smoke plume emitting black and grey smoke is visible from Jemez, Bernalillo, Santa Fe, NM 4 and I-25. For more information on how to protect yourself from smoke visit: www.nmfireinfo.com under the Smoke Management tab.

Sunday, June 26, 2011

Image via WikipediaAtlanta, Georgia
America, meet the greatest newest talent to hit NBC. I just watched America's Got Talent and witnessed an amazing 11 year old girl named Anna Gracemen sing her hear out with an incredible rendition of Alicia Keys "If I Ain't Got You." Compare the two for yourself. Yep. Anna Gracemen from ice cold Alaska could soon become the hottest NEW talent in Hollywood! Keep you eye on this singing artist in the making!

I feel like the luckiest reporter in Los Angeles to be able to cover Clint's concert here for the Los Cerritos Community News Group.

Kinda nervous, (yep, I do get a tad star struck once in a while) but thrilled beyond words. This is going to be an honor for me, and I am already making special plans for this special night. Going to keep all my readers posted about all the "cool inside" and "behind the scenes" details....

Image via WikipediaThe Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts is one of the most amazing places on "Planet Earth" to watch a concert. I have been "blessed" to have attended literally hundreds of live performances and events at the CCPA since it first opened their amazing bronze doors to the world a few decades ago.

Also going to post some of my all time favorite "Clint Black" songs here on the blog for the next three weeks.

Do you have a question for Clint? Please drop me a note to randy@cerritosnews.net . More to follow!
Above: The Galaxy Song.

Image via WikipediaAmerica is about to have a "New Voice," and I couldn't be more thrilled. I have been LOVING "The VOICE" on NBC this entire season, and now we are down to FOUR FINALISTS. I have a poll on my blog. I want to hear from you! Who will be "The Voice" for 2011?

The body of Minh Nguyen, the 24 year old Westminister native who went missing nearly two weeks ago after a horrific rafting incident on the Kern River has been located, according to friends of the victim.

MISSING: NEACATO

Nguyen went missing after he and Scott Neacato and others were visiting the popular river location with friends during a weekend celebration on June 13. The two were swept away in dangerous and aggressive rapids.

Seen: Raft that carried both Neacato and Nguyen seen after accident. Tulare County Sheriff Photo

Local search and rescue teams were searching for another man who went missing on Friday (who's name has not been released) when helicopters searching the rugged wooded area spotted the body of Nguyen, and around 40 feet away, a second body was found. That body turned out to be of the missing man, and not Neacato. "Randy, I just got off the phone with Minh's girlfriend who was up there today and s

he told me that they had a helicopter out searching for another man who went missing yesterday. That's when a helicopter saw something in the water and the Sheriffs came out to search and found Minh's body stuck under a tree in the water and 40ft near him was another body who turned out to be the man that went missing yesterday," said Varun Shahi, a lifelong friend of Neacato's.

The popular camping site is located about 10 miles north of Kernville, in Tulare County, it is a very popular location for college and university students to visit during spring and summer breaks.

A local volunteer group called the "J.I. Joe Group" was in the area assisting in the search efforts.

Both missing persons were on a camping trip with approximately 11 friends in the area of Ant Canyon, an unimproved campsite on the Kern River in Tulare County. On 06/13/2011 at approximately 1840 hours a 911 call was placed at a business in River Kern, Kern County. The group had tied a line across the river and then tied a small, two-man raft to the line. Both Neacato and Nguyen were in the raft which was in the middle of the river, approximately fifty (50) yards from the north shore. It appears the raft was pulled into a boil (turbulence) and subsequently was partially submerged and capsized due to the extreme current. Both subjects were swept down-river, river-center. Friends and family advised Neacato did not know how to swim. Neither subject was wearing a life jacket or exposure protection. The area where both subjects went in the water is approximately 200 yards above multiple class four and class five rapids. The Kern River flow is estimated to be running at approximately 4,800 CFS (Cubic Feet per Second.) Due to this year's above average snowpack and current high air temperatures, the flow is expected to peak at 6,000 CFS within the next few days. The water temperature is estimated to be approximately 42-45 degrees. Deputies and US Forest Service personnel arrived on scene within approximately twenty (20) minutes of the call and began a hasty search of the area with negative results for either subject. The first operational period was postponed at 2400 hours on 06/14/2011 due to darkness. The search and rescue (SAR) was initiated to begin the second operational period at 0800 hours on 06/14/2011. TCSO SAR and Swiftwater/Dive personnel began bank searches of the area at 0500 hours. TCSO Divers were inserted above the point last seen (PLS) in an effort to bank search the far south west side of the river. TCSO SAR personnel performed a copious search of both river banks approximately two (2) miles down from the PLS. CHP Helicopter arrived in the area at approximately 1100 hours and began air operations within the search area which included the Whiskey Flat trail which runs the south west side of the river in its entirety to Kernville. Due to terrain difficulties and the dangerous conditions of the river's flow, divers were unable to continue the bank search on the far side of the river as the south west river bank cliffs-out. Divers were unable to probe any pools, hydraulics or obvious eddies which may have held a body. It was not possible to safely or effectively construct technical highlines to aid in the search. As of 1800 hours on 06/14/2011, there was no sign of either subject. The search was scaled back with active SAR Operations ending and will continue by personnel from TCSO, USFS, CHP and KCSO until both subjects are located.

Meet Randy Economy

Randy Economy is one of the most respected Investigative Journalists in Southern California and is the recipient of FIVE top awards from the prestigious Los Angeles Press Club in 2013, 2014 and 2016.
He is the host of “The Randy Economy Show” that aired on AM 870 ‘The ANSWER’ in Southern California from January 2015 to March 2016. The show was rated as the #1 weekend talk show in Los Angeles by Neilsen/Arbitron during the months of June, September, and November, 2015.
Economy has worked as an investigative reporter for years, he is the real deal.
Economy uncovered a $1 billion dollar political “pay to play” scheme inside the Los Angeles County Tax Assessor’s Office that lead to the arrest of Assessor John Noguez, Property Tax Consultant Ramin Salari, Property Appraiser Mark McNeill, and Property Appraiser Scott Schenter. The series of articles resulted in him being recognized as a candidate for the prestigious Pulitzer Prize in 2013.
Economy also uncovered misuse of public office by Los Angeles Controller Wendy Greuel revealing how her elected position was used to leverage millions of dollars for her unsuccessful campaign for Mayor in 2013.
Economy, is now a resident of Rancho Mirage, California. He also uncovered massive fraud and political corruption inside the Central Basin Municipal Water District. The agency is now part of a criminal investigation by the FBI and US Attorney’s Office.
Bold, brass, and quick witted, Economy has also uncovered and reported on FBI probe of California State Senator Ronald Calderon, former Assemblyman Tom Calderon that led to both of their arrests in a complex bribery scheme.
He has covered hundreds of public meetings in and around Los Angeles County at City Halls from Simi Valley, to Long Beach, Norwalk, Downey, Los Angeles, Santa Monica and countless other field locations.
The Randy Economy Show has been featured on CNN, CNN International, Fox News, NBCLA, CNN, ABC Eyewitness News, KCAL9, CBS2, Associated Press, United Press International, Al-Jazeera, and hundreds of other television news shows across the globe…
Economy is a devout member of the Roman Catholic Church and attend Sacred Heart in Palm Desert.
In addition, Economy attended Utah State University and Cerritos College as well as a graduate of Cerritos High School.
Economy wears an eye patch. He lost the vision in his right eye nearly 10 years ago, and kids and critics refer to him as “The Pirate.” With his reputation for exposing countless crooked politicians, many now ask who are the real “political pirates” in our area. It is not Randy Economy, it’s those who dare to steal from the public and think that they can get away with it.
Randy Economy became an “official member” of the Republican Party in April of 2016.
Economy can be reached via his cell phone at 562 743-0882. His blog, now with more than 10 million readers is www.RandyEconomy.co.